The eastern diamondback rattlesnake holds the record fro being the largest venomous snake in North America.
This snakes deserve a lot of respect. Since they can grow six to seven feet in length, they carry the most venom of any venomous snake.
A single bite from a diamondback is capable of killing four to six people.
Diamondbacks in general are also timid and shy snakes, usually hiding out during the day and becoming active during night time.
The prey of this snakes consists normally of small mammals and birds.
A natural predator to an eastern diamondback will be a large bird like grey herons, eagles and hawks which have a high tolerance against snake bites.
Alligators do also prey frequently on snakes.
Alligator can eat large venomous snakes and are completely immune to the toxin of the snake’s venom.
The fang of a venomous snake functions the same as a hypodermic needle. When pressure is applied to the plunger, liquid will flow through the needle itself.
When pressure is applied to the glands of a venomous snake, venom will flow through the fangs.
Diamondbacks have a very distinct pattern. They have dark colored diamonds that run down on the back of their spine, as well as on the sides.
These diamonds are outline in light shades of colors. To distinguish a diamondback, it is very easy to do.
The side of their head has a dark strip running through the eye, also outline in a lighter shade of color.
The stripe is visible from a distance and looks like the mask of a raccoon.
Most snakes that we do have encounters with are very timid and shy snakes.
Some snakes can become aggressive due to the size of the animal, like the feisty pygmy rattlesnake.
But for the most part snakes are very timid and shy. The only time this animals will become aggressive, only if provoked by trying to capture it or trying to kill the snake.
During these two actions is when most people winding up getting hurt. There are over two hundred people getting bitten in Florida each year.
Florida’s venomous snakes are very important to the eco system. They help control rodent populations.
Many people have fascinations with venomous snakes but when encountering a venomous snake in the wild, the best thing to do is to leave it alone.